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Electrolytic Plating & Coating Machines

Electrolytic plating, also known as electroplating, is the process of using an electric current to deposit a metallic coating onto a metal surface. This process is common in the automotive industry where metal parts become resistant to corrosion with a coating of chrome, for example. Brush and tank electroplating requires special and specific equipment.

Power Supply
- A rectifier is a source of power that converts standard AC current to the DC current required for electroplating. This is required because DC current flows in only one direction, allowing electroplating to occur. When purchasing a rectifier, it is important to purchase the size you need and not any larger. Higher power does not result in better results. If you plan to plate small and large objects, it is okay to purchase a 50-amp rectifier, but you need to add a fine tuner for plating small objects. If you are plating a variety of metals, make sure the rectifier you choose is capable of different voltage settings, as each type of metal requires different voltages.
Brush Plating
- Brush plating is a portable method of electroplating used for a wide variety of metals or alloys. This method requires fewer chemicals and lower powered rectifiers than tank plating. Portable plating machines allow part plating without removing the part from its place, such as on a car engine. A rectifier supplies a negative charge to the work piece and a positive charge to a handheld wand. The wand has an anode attached to the end of it that is covered with an absorbent material that holds the plating solution in place. The wand pumps a plating solution directly to the work piece, resulting in even coverage.
Tank Plating
- With tank plating, the size of the tank limits the size of the project, but it is ideal for plating small items like jewelry. One advantage to tank plating is its ability to apply thicker plating. Another advantage is in the ability to plate complex shapes and small spaces where a wand can't reach. In addition to a rectifier and the proper chemical for your project, you need a tank and an anode, which is a piece of metal made of the type of metal you wish to plate onto your object. This may be copper, nickel, chrome or stainless steel.
Hobbyist Machines
- Barrel plating machines are for the home hobbyist and come in a variety of sizes and two basic types: horizontal and oblique. Horizontal barrels are typically hexagonal with a removable panel. Vibratory plating machines are for plating bulk quantities of small parts. Hobbyists often make their own machines using a fish tank. You can also purchase a brush plating kit from a hobby store.

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